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Shropshire Cover Online.qxp_Shropshire Cover 01/03/2017 09:55 Page 1 Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands ISSUE 375 MARCH 2017 STUART GOLDSMITH Shropshire AT HENRY TUDOR HOUSE ’ WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD On shropshirewhatson.co.uk inside: Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide (IFC) Shropshire.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2017 14:41 Page 1 Contents March Wolves/Shrops/Staffs.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2017 12:47 Page 2 March 2017 Contents Swingamajig - the Midlands most distinctive music festival returns to Digbeth feature on page 28 Mamma Mia! Natasha J. Barnes Jarrod Dickenson the list West End musical returns to the talks about starring in Funny The Lonesome Traveler returns Your 16-page Midlands. Find out where on Girl on tour to Henry Tudor House week-by-week listings guide page 4 interview page 8 page 14 page 51 inside: 4. First Word 11. Food 16. Music 20. Comedy 22. Theatre 36. Film 40. Visual Arts 43. Events @whatsonwolves @whatsonstaffs @whatsonshrops Wolverhampton What’s On Magazine Staffordshire What’s On Magazine Shropshire What’s On Magazine Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 Whats On Matt Rothwell [email protected] 01743 281719 Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 MAGAZINE GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Rhian Atherton [email protected] 01743 281726 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, David Vincent, Katherine Ewing, Lauren Cox Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. FIRST WORD march shropshire 1.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2017 13:58 Page 1 First Word Mamma Mia! It’s a double whammy for Midlands Abba fans Smash-hit Abba musical Mamma Mia! is vis- iting Stoke-on-Trent’s Regent Theatre next month - and then making another Midlands stop-off early next year at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton. The feelgood award winner shows at the Regent from Tuesday 18 to Saturday 29 April as part of its UK tour. It then visits the Wolverhampton Grand from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 24 February 2018. Commenting on the news, Adrian Jackson, the Grand’s chief executive and artistic direc- tor, said: “The inclusion of Mamma Mia! to our 2018 season will give audiences an indi- cation of the calibre of entertainment they can expect in the near future.” To book tickets for the Regent show, call 0844 871 7649 or visit atgtickets.com/stoke. To grab your seat at the Grand next year, call 01902 429212 or visit grandtheatre.co.uk. Move over, The Big Hoot - been around since 1938 and are an important former since the 1960s has provided me with part of our visitor economy, providing jobs many of the highlights of my life,” said the it’s wolves in Wolves... and generating millions of pounds every year one-time Wizzard star, “and it’s great that by staging nationally acclaimed shows. The Thirty wolf sculptures are to be installed festivals like this one continue to help and importance of their contribution to the visi- around Wolverhampton. develop local talent, as well as giving local tor economy was highlighted by The six feet tall fibre-glass sculptures will be audiences the chance to see performers from Wolverhampton last year making the top 10 fixed onto plinths and will form part of a the national circuit in a major survey of the best live music trail looping around the heart of the city. on their doorstep.” scenes in the UK.” The Wolves In Wolves project calls to mind The festival is this Birmingham’s Big Hoot, which saw a series year taking place of owl sculptures being positioned at loca- Open-air concert set to from 2 to 4 June. tions throughout the city during 2015. rock Shrewsbury For more informa- The wolf sculptures will not be a permanent tion, visit lichfield- fixture across Wolverhampton. It’s expected A host of 1980s pop leg- arts.org.uk that they will be auctioned to raise cash for ends are set to perform charity when the project ends in September. in Shropshire this For more information, email info@wolvesin- spring. The Let’s Rock Award-winning musical wolves.co.uk Shrewsbury retro festi- Sunset Boulevard set to val takes place in the return to Birmingham town’s beautiful Quarry Major investment planned Park on Saturday 27 Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning for city’s music venues May. Artists taking part include Billy Ocean, musical Sunset Boulevard is returning to the ABC, Tony Hadley, Heaven 17, Nick Heyward, Birmingham Hippodrome in the autumn. Wolverhampton's Grade II listed Civic Halls Nik Kershaw, T’Pau, The Real Thing, Altered The Tony Award winner, based on Billy venue is being given a £14.4million refur- Images, Brother Beyond and Jaki Graham. Wilder’s legendary film, is being presented bishment. Tickets are priced from £35 and are available by Leicester’s Curve theatre and will star Ria The refurb will increase capacity in both the from letsrockshrewsbury.com Jones as faded silent-screen goddess Norma Civic Hall and Wulfrun Hall and improve the Desmond. hospitality areas. It’s expected that the work Welsh singer Ria was Glenn Close’s West End will be completed by October 2018. Lichfield blues festival understudy in the role last year, receiving Commenting on the refurbishment, gets its very own Wizzard rave reviews and standing ovations when Councillor John Reynolds, City of she took over the part after the Hollywood Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Midlands music legend Roy Wood has star had fallen ill. City Economy, said: “This is an exciting time expressed his delight at becoming the new Sunset Boulevard runs at the Hippodrome in the project, when we will begin to see real patron of the Lichfield Blues & Jazz Festival. from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 November. changes to the Civic Halls. The halls have “My career as a writer, musician and per- 4 whatsonlive.co.uk FIRST WORD march shropshire 1.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2017 13:58 Page 2 Entertainment news from around the region Opera outdoors at Celebrity MasterChef co-host at Stafford Festival Shrewsbury Flower Show 2017 Straight-talking Celebrity MasterChef co-host John Torode is the headline chef at this year’s Shrewsbury Flower Show. John will be enlightening and entertaining visitors on both days of the popular event, which this year takes place on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 August. Stafford Festival Shakespeare 2017’s Commenting on the news, Society Secretary Simon production of The Tempest looks set to ‘go down a storm’ with theatre- Badrock said: “John is a great personality, and no doubt goers - but it isn’t the only show his passion for good food and great discussion will be a being presented on the Stafford huge success in our Food Hall, where he’ll be demonstrat- Castle open-air stage this year... ing alongside some of Shrewsbury’s home-grown talent.” An operatic performance of Mozart’s One of the country’s premier horticultural events, the mystery drama, The Magic Flute - annual Shrewsbury Flower Show delivers a diverse pro- presented by professional touring company Heritage Opera - will also gramme of attractions and entertainment for all the family take place at the venue during the to enjoy. festival (on Sunday 2 July). As usual, both days’ proceedings will culminate in a Mozart and his librettist, E massed bands arena finale and a spectacular firework dis- Schikaneder, composed the piece in play. the late 18th century. They were greatly influenced in their writing by The Tempest, a fact which makes The Magic Flute the perfect compan- ion piece for this year’s Shakespeare A music hall first for Victorian town production. The Tempest shows at the castle Blists Hill Victorian Town is this month hosting the first in a new from Thursday 22 June to Saturday 8 series of nostalgic music hall evenings. July. Taking place in the Forest Glen Pavilion on Friday 24 March as part of For more information, contact the Ironbridge Gorge Museums’ 50th Anniversary celebrations, the box office on 01785 619080 or visit staffordfestivalshakespeare.com themed evening includes a two-course meal and live piano entertain- ment, featuring a host of classic Victorian-era songs. Guests are invited to attend dressed in Victorian costume - so dust off those bustles and crinolines and spruce up your top hats and tails! Lichfield to host Tickets at £25 per adult must be pre-booked by calling 01785 252247 10th literary fest or emailing [email protected]. Annual Passport The city of Lichfield is this month Tickets are not valid for the evening and dogs will not be permitted.